With last year’s release of the Surface Pro 3, Microsoft switched from using Wacom technology for its tablets’ stylus and touchscreen to a rival system provided by N-trig. Microsoft has now decided to purchase this company’s technology.

Microsoft Surface 3 vs. Surface 2 and N-trig Pen

All tablets come with touch-sensitive screens, but some models go the extra mile and come with a screen that can detect how much pressure is being applied by a pen/stylus. Wacom is the company best known for supplying the technology to handle this, so it was was a major coup for N-trig when Microsoft’s third-generation flagship tablet used N-trig technology. The same tech will be used in the upcoming Surface 3.

Microsoft was happy enough with this move that it has decided to stop simply licensing N-trig technology and buy this digital pen system from the company for a reported $30 million.